Senior Associate, Community Engagement

Invenergy•Chicago, IL

1d•$98,000 - $125,000•Hybrid

About The Position

As Senior Associate, Community Affairs, you will lead local outreach and serve as a key relationship contact for county and municipal officials, local taxing bodies, chambers, and Economic Development Organizations in communities where Invenergy has development or operational presence. This experienced, independently operating professional will manage complex community affairs assignments for assigned projects and regions, contribute to the design and execution of community relations programs, and help position Invenergy as a good corporate citizen. The role may also support and mentor junior Community Affairs team members. Invenergy follows a hybrid schedule, working in the office Monday through Thursday and remotely on Fridays if work permits. The role requires travel more than 50% of the time, including travel to project locations that may not be accessible by public transit. Applicants must have a valid driver's license and be willing to operate personal and/or rented vehicles for travel. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States without current or future employer visa sponsorship. The annual base pay range is $98,000 to $125,000, with a 20% to 30% bonus. Invenergy offers medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k), and paid time off, among other benefits.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
At least 5 years of experience in infrastructure or real estate development, public affairs, communications, government, politics, law, engineering, environment, sustainability, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience with local political and stakeholder engagement, preferably in rural areas.
Experience working with county or municipal officials, local taxing bodies, chambers, and/or Economic Development Organizations.
Ability to travel more than 50% of the time.
Valid driver's license and willingness to operate personal and/or rented vehicles for travel to project locations.
Eligible to work in the United States without employer visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Comfort and experience presenting information to varied audiences and in varied settings, including one-on-one meetings, public events, and media settings.
Familiarity with the energy industry, including renewable energy project development, real estate development, or transmission and power engineering.
Strong organizational, networking, leadership, and time management skills.
Ability to write effective, concise reports.
Ability to manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously and on time, using sound critical thinking and judgment.
Experience mentoring or informally guiding junior team members.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary contact for local outreach and relationship management with county and municipal officials, local taxing bodies, chambers, and Economic Development Organizations for assigned projects and regions.
Represent projects and Invenergy in meetings with county and municipal officials, local taxing bodies, landowners, and other local and state stakeholders.
Communicate the benefits of operational projects and projects in development to host community members.
Support the Development team in navigating county and municipal approval processes for project development.
Contribute to developing and implementing structured community relations programs for assigned projects and regions, aligned with company-wide strategies.
Collaborate with Communications and Impact teams to align community relations activities with company priorities and partnerships.
Communicate with internal and external audiences about Invenergy's presence, industry benefits, and project updates; escalate complex or sensitive matters to the Manager as needed.
Monitor local project opposition and proactively build relationships with community members and educate stakeholders to neutralize or mitigate its spread.
Coordinate with local counties and government groups, and work closely with Government Affairs to support outreach to local, state, and federal officials.
Summarize and present statistics about the benefits of operational projects and projects in development to external stakeholders.
Maintain relationship continuity as a local contact for key Invenergy stakeholders across assigned regions, projects, technologies, and geographies.
Coordinate with Asset Management, Operations, and Development teams to identify stakeholders and advance departmental goals.
May mentor and support the development of junior Community Affairs team members, including Analysts and Senior Analysts.